Mt Fuji Area Private Guided Tours in English-Natur hautnah, ruhig, persönlich

Yumi took us to some amazing spots around three lakes. We arrived to our accommodation in Kawaguchiko in the afternoon so our tour started around 2:30 pm. Both she and Chris were very flexible. Yumi picked us up from our hotel, took us to a couple viewing spots where we could see Fuji beautifully, took us into the forest a little bit, where we could see a waterfall, then took us down to some other lakes, and into the lava forest. My wife is 6m pregnant, Yumi was very accommodating with bathroom breaks and pit stops. None of the trekking was by any means grueling - per wife. I had requested to do a little stargazing, as it is a new moon and we had relatively clear skies: We were able to see Mars, Venus, and multiple constellations! Yumi made some delicious tea, and had hiking boots, warm socks, blankets, down jackets, neck warmers, and hats ready for us! We literally did not have to think at all. This was both super relaxing, and also very rewarding.

We spent a wonderful day exploring the Mt. Fuji area with Chris Battin of Hidden Japan Guided Tours. We by-passed hundreds of tourists lined up for the Mr. Fuji ropeway and lake tour boats to explore the waterfalls, lakes and forests of the surrounding area. AND had the most beautiful views of Mt. Fuji, framed in glorious cherry blossom. Instead of jostling for space with hordes of Instagrammers, we had the space and time to revel in cool clear water splashing on dappled stones, listen to the trill of forest birds, and breathe the earthy smell of Spring-warmed loam. Chris introduced us to powerful, hidden shrines while sharing his knowledge of Japan, social and religious customs, and enhancing our Japanese vocabulary. We had a great lunch of hot ramen in a small village along the way. Chris is warm and friendly, open and outgoing. He can provide well-maintained hiking equipment (boots, wet weather gear, etc.) and is very safety-conscious. If you are looking for an off-the-beaten-track tour, tailored to your specific interests, Chris is the guide for you. The only problem: we could have spent more than 1 day in his company. To experience the astounding beauty of Mt. Fuji without having to deal with the multitudes, I recommend this tour very highly.

Our guide was very communicative ahead of the tour and made sure we had our travel booked far in advance since we were traveling during a holiday. They had boots, gloves, hats, and other gear ready for us, which was super helpful. They did an amazing job of taking us off the beaten path and showing us their favorite spots throughout the area. We had an amazing day connecting with nature. It was a great break from the busyness of Tokyo. 10/10 would recommend this tour.